Discover Germany | Special Theme | All Eyes on German Architecture 2019Move Management
Konrad-Adenauer-Platz Düsseldorf: The new representative entrance to the city as envisioned by RKW, GTL Michael Triebswetter and Vössing engineers. Visualisation: MACINA digital film
Incomparably versatile - RKW Architektur + Let us talk about buildings. Let us talk about architecture. And let us talk with and about one of the pioneers of German architecture. TEXT: SILKE HENKELE
“As one of the most successful German architectural offices we have been shaping contemporary living and working environments since 1950,” says Dieter Schmoll, managing partner at Düsseldorf-based architectural office RKW Architektur +. This makes RKW a pioneer amongst German architectural firms that, in the course of its long, unparalleled success story, has created and still creates iconic designs.“At the beginning, we concentrated on commercial architecture. It all started with the projects for department-store chain Horten,” Schmoll reminisces. Today, RKW is a modern, future-orientated all-rounder whose architectural plans have a lasting influence on building culture and townscapes. The office is also a pioneer in sustainable planning processes. Just three examples of RKW’s great designs are stadium Energa in Gdansk, built 92 | Issue 73 | April 2019
for the European Football Championship in 2012, as well as MIPIM-awared Milaneo in Stuttgart and the award-winning CROWN in Düsseldorf. Its diversity is crucial for the office’s success and daily interactions alike. There are eight partners in charge of RKW Architektur +. “We are incredibly lucky to be able to draw on a wealth of experience as our office links generations, nationalities and talents,” stresses Schmoll. “This knowledge gives us a tremendous advantage and enables us to better assess tendencies or the feasibility of certain ideas.”Together with around 370 employees from 25 nations, RKW offers private and public builders a comprehensive range of services in all classic services phases including general planning, building and quality management, BIM-planning as well as project development, moderation and consulting services. “We are a reliable part-
ner to our clients – from the first sketch to the final inspections. As we have our own quality or security management, we are independent from external forces. This is particularly advantageous for our clients as they have only one contact person for all their concerns.” ’People, process, project’ – the triad of people and processes that lead to successful projects represents the office’s guiding principle. At RKW, successful projects arise from the interaction of people with different talents and competences in innovative, reliable processes: every day. www.rkw.plus
Dieter Schmoll, managing partner at Düsseldorf-base architectural office RKW Architektur +.